Cathinka moved to the UK to attend St George’s, Ascot during Year 9 from her native country, Norway. She stayed until the end of Year 10, before her parents wanted her to return to Norway to do the IB diploma programme, to which she had received early entry. After the IB she did some elective courses in philosophy, psychology and drama at University of Oslo, before she started her medical degree at the Norwegian University of Science and Technology.
A medical degree in Norway is 6 years and is equivalent to an English MBBS (Bachelor of Medicine, Bachelor of Surgery) with intercalated research. During her degree she took one year off to be the President of the University's Student Parliament, and she also went on an exchange to National University of Singapore for her placements in obstetrics and gynecology, nephrology and urology.
Having been awarded a degree in medicine, Cathinka started doing research while working summers at St. Olavs hospital's Nephrology department and later starting her speciality training. During the academic year 2023/2024 she finished her foundation training and submitted her PhD on medical education, which she defended in the fall of 2024 and for which she received her PhD degree in medicine and health science.
Cathinka currently works as a GP in Norway, where she also supervises medical students when they are learning doctor-patient communication and reflection on and for practice.
Reflecting on her time at St George’s, Cathinka has many positive takeaways. The school’s motto - Vincit qui se vincit - underpins her approach to life, focusing on positive values, acceptance of change, embracing curiosity, being happy for others, and celebrating the differences that enable each of us to follow our own path.
She reflects on two housemistresses, and many other teachers who have made a world of difference to her, both of whom have been instrumental in her personal and professional achievements.